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ISSN: 2360-7874 |
Academic Research Journal of
Agricultural Science and Research |
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Vol. 8(4), pp. 339-351, May 2020 Research Effects of Straw Mulch and Manure on Moisture Conservation, Yield and Yield Components of Maize (Zea Mays L.) in the Mid Rift Valley of Oromia, Ethiopia
Ayub Jelde1* and Shimelis Berhanu2
1 Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center, Oromia, Ethiopia 2 School of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Haramaya University Corresponding Author: Ayub Jelde KetaEmail: ayub.jelde99@gmail.com, Tel: (+251)-923-727-135, P.O.Box: 545, Ziway, Ethiopia
Accepted 28 May 2020
Water shortage is one of the major problems limiting crop productivity in arid and semi-arid regions. Suitable soil and water conservation measure that can be easily integrated into the existing farming operations while enhancing in-situ moisture conservation by reducing the direct impact of raindrops, maintaining soil infiltration, increasing surface storage and affecting soil temperature, and increasing nutrient is crucially needed. A field experiment was conducted under rainfall conditions in the mid rift valley in 2018 cropping season to investigate the effects of straw mulch and farmyard manure on soil water-nutrient status and sustainable productivity of maize. Twenty-seven experimental plots each with 3 m * 3 m area were used to conduct the experiment. The experimental design used RCBD with nine treatments and replicated three times. The results revealed that there was highly significant difference (P≤0.01) between the treatments regarding their effect on yield and yield components of maize while the amount of moisture conserved through growth stages show significant differences (P≤0.05). The moisture conserved through growth stages was increased more due to combined effect of straw mulch with manure up to 60 cm depth of the soil from emergence to maturity stages. The results showed that application of straw mulch and farmyard manure could increase the soil moisture content by 16 28% in the three soil depths in relation to the control. Also, the highest grain yields (11.8 tons ha-1 and 11.2 tons ha-1) were obtained from the combined application of treatments. These results indicated that retaining crop residue and application of farmyard manure in the field could be used as soil moisture conservation measure for sustainable improvement of maize production under the low moisture stress and rainfall conditions of the study area.
Key words: Farmyard manure, Growth stages, Moisture content, Soil depth, Straw mulch
How to cite this article (APA Style): Ayub J., Shimelis B (2020). Effects of Straw Mulch and Manure on Moisture Conservation, Yield and Yield Components of Maize (Zea Mays L.) in the Mid Rift Valley of Oromia, Ethiopia. Acad. Res. J. Agri. Sci. Res. 8(4): 339-351
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